Boiler drum and soot hopper construction



July 24, 1951 1. L. LANGVAND ETAL 2,561,375

BOILER DRUM AND SCOT HOPPER CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 12, 1946 Fig.1

nvAOAmmDDOOoWwkO/u INVENTORS [Var Z. Z angz and Gl evj rfiaessow ATTORNEY l. L. LANGVAND ETAL BOILER DRUM AND SOOT HOPPER CONSTRUCTION July 24, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed ,March 12, 1946 0G I 3 m fl W IIM I: .1: ll'illllii M 1 x W m a w 41 L 5 K h U n u 9\ 5 6 5 4 MW saw R a 5 Y o e E T90 N Nn R may 0 NZ W A g. n w

y 4, 1951 l. L. LANGVAND ETAL 2,561,875

BOILER DRUM AND SOOT HOPPER CONSTRUCTION Filed March 12, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J Ill/)7 l ENToRs fa/anl. angl/ana (5491? J Scr'wesson ATTORNEY Patented July 24, 1951 BOILER DRUM AND SOOT HOPPER CQNSTRUCTION Ivar L. Langvand and Glen J. Schoessow, Barberton, Ohio, assignors to The Eabcock & Wilcox Company, Rocklcigh,N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 12, 1946, Serial No. 653,844

11 Claims. Cl. 122 235) The present invention relates to the construction and arrangement ofwalls for vapor generators heated by gaseous products of combustion. It is particularly directed to wall constructions in which water heating tubes form at least a part of the wall structure and act to absorb heat from the heating gases.

.An object of our invention is to provide a wall structure associated with connected pressure,

parts of a boiler and comprising a soot hopper supported fromuone of the parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide agastight boiler enclosure wherein a portion is formed as a soot hopper deriving support from a drum of the boiler, while another portion is formed as a wall associated with heat absorbing tubes connected to the drum.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an arrangement of pressure parts, including water cooling tubes of a boiler wall, and an associated dust hopper supported on the pressure parts, which permits differential temperature conditions of component portions while maintaining a gastight juncture of the portions.

The various features of novelty which characterize our invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reierence should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which we have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of our invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view, in section, of a vapor generating unit incorporating our invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a section View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

.Fig. .3 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

.-Fig. 4 is a section view taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 3; l

Fig. 5 is a view, in section, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;-

Fig. 6 is a view, in section, taken on the line 6-45 of Fig. 3, with certain refractory material omitted;

Fig. 7 is a View, in section, taken on the line 1-4 of Fig. 6.; and.

Fig. 8 is a view, in section, taken on the line 8-43 of Fig. 4.

The steam generating unit illustrated in the drawings is of the general type disclosed in the Bailey et a1. patent, No. 2,326,513, issued August 13, 1943, wherein the furnace is laterally adjacent the upright banks of the boiler convection heating surfaces and the heating gas new is directed through those convection banks by vertical baffles in a series of connected passes extending from a first pass adjacent the rear wall to a last pass adjacent the opposite front wall of the setting. As shown particularly in Fig. 1,, the unit includes a water-cooled furnace It! having a hopper bottom I! and a plurality of groups of upright convection tubes connecting an upper drum I2 and a lower drum it. The walls of the furnace are provided with water wall tubes which, with the exception of the front or burner wall (not shown), are closely spaced to form substantially continuous walls of water-cooled surfaces exposed to the radiant heat of the furnace. The tubes in the burner wall are spaced to permit bending the tubes in the plane of the wall to pro vide burner ports M for the insertion of fuel burners.

The tubes of the water wall are connected into the fluid circulating system of the steam generating unit in a conventional manner including the use of headers for some well tubes while other wall tubes are directly connected to the boiler drums. The furnace rear wall is formed with a row of tubes 15 having the major portions of their lengths in closely spaced or contacting relationships in a common. plane, connected at their upper and lower ends with the headers it and H respectively. The tubes 18 of the outer side wall 2B are bent in their lower portion 2| to form one side of the hopper bottom ll, while their upper portion 22 is bent to form a horizontally inclined roof for the furnace. The lower ends of the tubes l3 enter a header 23 which. is connected with the lower drum it by tubes I19, while the upper ends of the tubes are directly connected with the upper drum 42 in two longitudinal rows, as shown. The opposite side of the hopper bottom is formed by a closely spaced SE," ries of tubes 24 extending between theheader 25 and the upper drum I2 with water supply tubes 25a connected between header 25 and the lower drum 13. In the embodiment shown, all of the wall tubes are preferably of the same outside diameter, as for example 3 inches, in which instance they are spaced on. substantially 3 inch centers.

Advantageously the water wall headers are circular in cross-section for ease of fabrication and the inherent strength of a circular member. Obviously it is desirable from a structural and 3 economic standpoint to select headersof the least possible diameter consistent with the fluid flow conditions therethrough. In addition, since the wall tubes are closely spaced, the header receiving those tubes must be drilled and the tubes correspondingly bent to enter the header tube seats in a spaced relationship to provide a header strength capable of withstanding the internal pressuretherein, during periods of steam gener ation.

In the vapor generating unit illustrated inthe drawings'the boiler and its associated furnace the plate 31.

of upright tubes extending upwardly therefrom."

With this construction jvertical expansion and contraction of the unit upon temperature changes occur relative to this predetermined horizontal support elevation. Certain features of the unit supporting structure herein shown are also disclosed, and are claimed, in the copending application of Glen J. Schoessow, Serial No. 654,239,1iled March 14, 1946. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a soot hopper 32 extends longitudinally of the lower drum 13 for the full extent of the boiler setting with one longitudinal side thereof joined to the drum I3, while the upper margin of the opposite side of the hopper structure is connected to the superjacent side wall 39 of the setting. The hopper structure is formed of steel members lined with heat resistant refractory material and is longitudinally divided into a series of sections connected by expansion joints 33, as hereinafter described, to permit expansion and contraction thereof in a horizontal direction parallel to the axis of the drum l3. In the arrangement shown by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the hopper structure is carried by the drum l3 to which it is attached, as hereinafter described, while the side setting-wall 39 above the hopper structure is carried by tubes 44 which form a part thereof and are in turn con- 1 r nected to and supported at their terminal ends by the drums l2 and I3.

' Referring particularly to Fig. 4, a plate 34 which forms an innermost side of the hopper is bolted to a longitudinal bar 35 welded to the drum is and is inclined downwardly to a welded connection 34a with-a horizontally disposed plate 35 forming the bottom of the hopper. A vertical plate 31 forming the outer side of the hopper, attached to plate 36 by a longitudinal weld,;is connected to the case ing plate 38 of the side setting wall 39 by a bolted flanged joint 48. From the flanged joint 4i! the plate 31 is provided with an inclined off-set portion 4! and a vertical portion 42.

In addition to the bolted connection of the hopper plate 34 with the drum 13, the plate as is extended horizontally to a position below the drum l3 and attached to the drum support til. A. series of struts are set on edge and connect the hopper 32 withthe lower drum support 3i}. These struts are spaced longitudinally of the hopper to strengthen the hopper and are provided with vertical extension angles 62 to strengthen the vertical plate 31 of the hopper. In the construction shown, each separate section of the hopper, between the expansion joints 33 has a longitudinal dimension of from 6 to '7 feet and is provided with three struts 5i and extension angles 62 spaced therealong.

The weight of the hopper and the accumulated solids is carried by a cantilever type of support from drum l3, the weight imposes a tensional stress upon the plate 34 while the struts 6i will be under a compression stress, thereby holding the hopper 32 in a substantially fixed position relative to. the drum support.

The plates and 5| forming the end walls of the hopper 32 are secured by bolts or the like to a flange 52 welded to opposite ends of the drum I3, and at the corners stiffening plates 53 and 54 are provided joining the plates 58 and 5| with A protective layer of refractory material 55 is provided for the internal wall surfaces of the hopper. The dust which is collected through the spouts 56 in a convenient manner as through valve means so as to avoid leakage of air upwardly therethrough.

As shown in Fig. 8 with respect to wall plate 31, the expansion joint/.233 extends transversely of the drum l3 and sectionalizes the hopper by inserting companion strips 63 and 64 between the inturned ends 65 and 66 of each longitudinal section of the hopper plate 31. One end 61 of the strips is welded together while their opposite ends are welded to the adjacent ends 65 and 66 of the inturned plate. The expansion joint extends substantially throughout the height of the vertical wall plate 31 and, from plate 31, transversely between sections of plates 36 and 34 up to the drum connection of the latter plate. Upon longitudinal dilferential expansion of portions of the hopper, as caused by a difference in temperatures, the companion strips 63 and 64 will spread adjacent the inturned ends of, the joints, as for example 65 and 66, to a V shape which still retains its gastight connection between adjacent sections of plates 31, 36, and 34.

The upper setting sidewall 39 is made up of the row of tubes 44, tile 41, insulation 48 and the outside casing 38, with the wall componentssupported on the tubes 44 which are subject to expansion and contraction with the other heated pressure parts of the boiler. 'The tile 41 forming the closure'of the spaces between the tubes 44 extend vertically from a position adjacent the top of the hopper structure and the lower most tile are supported on the tubes through the com-- bination of the tube saddles 46 and the longitudinally extending shelf angle 43 attached thereto by means of the bar 45. The saddles 46 are welded to the tubes '44 and the bars 45 are welded to the flange portions of the saddles.

In the construction described the tile and tube' portions of the wall 39 will expand upwardly as a unit with-the expansion of the tubes 44 and since the position of the hopper is rigidly supported by the drum 13, the connection between the upper portion 42 of the plate 31 and the saddle 46 is arranged to permit relative movement therebetween. This is accomplished by the use of a series of slotted holes 59 in the hopper plate portion 42 through which each saddle 46 and coacting shelf member 43 are held against the plate by a bolt 51. As shown in Fig. 6 a tubular spacer 58and washer fill are interposed between the head of the bolt 51 and the flange of the shelf member 43. The spacer is longerthan the thickness of the plate portion 42 so that when the assembly is bolted together the saddle 46' may move relative to the hopper 32 in a vertical direction restricted to the dimensions of the slotted openings, and maintain a substantially gastight joint 58, as indicated. I

The desirability of this type of construction and the relatively slight difference in expansion and contraction of the component parts forming the joint between the hopper 32 and the wall 39 is apparent from a consideration of the temperatures to which the related parts are subjected. The temperature of difierent portions of the hopper, during operation of the vapor generating unitmn'lldiifer between a temperature approachingthat of the drum l3 and tubes 44, to a lower temperature characteristic of the casing 38. With the hopper rigidly supported by the drum l3 and the inner elements of wall 39 movable vertically with the tubes 44 a sliding joint therebetween providing for a slight vertical movement is desirable. For example it has been found that the slotted holes '59 may be approximately +8" x 1%" when used with a standard weight pipe spacer 58 and a bolt 51 inserted therethrough, and provide adequate movement for the diflerential in expansivity of the parts.

Weclaim: i

l. Ina vaporgenerating unithaving a horizontally disposed lower drum, means for supporting said drum, a row of tubes connected to said drum having a substantially vertical portion lying in a plane spaced from and parallel to the axis of said drum, refractory material cooperat ing with said tubes to form a substantially vertical wall of said vapor generating unit, a soot hopper between said drum and said well, and means for supporting said hopper from said drum while maintaining said hopper substantially leak-proof during the operation of said vapor generating unit, said last named means comprising means for rigidly securing a side of said hopper tosaid drum, and means forming a leak-proof expansion joint between the oppositeside of said hopper and said unit wall, said hopper having end walls joined to said sides and rigidly secured to said drmu along longitudinally spaced arcuate portions thereof.

2. In a vapor generating unit having a horizontally disposed lower drum, means for bottomsupporting said drum, a row of tubes connected to said drum having a substantially vertical por tion lying in a plane spaced from and parallel to the axis of said drum, refractory material cooperatingwith said tubes to form a substantially vertical wall of said vapor generating unit, a soot hopper between said drum and said wall, and means for supporting said hopper from said drum while maintaining said hopper substantially leak-proof during the operation of said vapor generating unit, said last named means comprising a longitudinal bar secured to said drum and aflixed to an inclined side of said hopper, and a series of struts extending between and affixed to the supporting means or said drum and to the lower side of said hopper, said lower side having a rigid connection with said inclined side, said hopper having an upright side forming a continuation of said unit wall and slideably attached in lealr-proof relationship thereto.

3- In a vapor generating unit having a horizontally disposed lower drum, means for supporting said drum at a fixed elevation and permitting longitudinal movement thereof upon changes in temperature, a row of tubes con nected to said drum and arranged to cooperate with successive rows of refractory tile and with insulating material to form a substantially vertical wall of said vapor generating unit parallel to the axis of said drum, a soot hopper disposed between said drum and said wall and extending longitudinally of said drum substantially throughout the width of said wall, and means for supporting said hopper in fixed relation to said drum while maintaining'said hopper substantially lealoproof during the operation of said vapor generating unit, said last named means comprising a longitudinal barwelded to said drum and extending "horizontally between and affixed to an inclined sideof said hopper, a series of struts affixed to the supporting means of said drum and to the lower side of said hopper, a vertical side of said hopper slideably attached in leakproof relationship to said. vapor generating unit wall, means for discharging collected solid materials from the bottom of said soot hopper, and at least one vertical expansion joint dividing said hopper longitudinally thereof.

4.11: a vapor generating unit having a horizontally disposed lower drum, a'series of structural columns supporting said drum at a substantially fixed elevation and arranged for longitudinalmovement of the drum thereon with changes in drum temperature, a row of tubes connected with said drumhaving a substantially vertical portion lying in a plane spaced from and parallel to the axis of said drum, a substantially vertical wall supported on said tubes and arranged to form one wall of said generating unit setting, a soot hopper between said drum and said wall, means for supporting said hopper at a substantially fixed elevation and longitudinally adjacent said drum comprising a bar longitudinally secured to said drum and aflixed to an inclined side of said hopper, a series of struts aflixedto the columns supporting saiddrum and to the lower side of said hopper, means forming a vertically expansible leak-proof joint connecting a vertical side of said hopper with said unit wall, end plates tosaid hopper attached to said drum and to the sides of said hopper, said end plates each having a portion extending exteriorly of said hopper and being attached to said drum within an arc embracing the position of said bar, means for removing collected solid materials from said hopper, and at least one vertical expansion joint dividing said hopper into longitudinal sections.

5. In a vapor generating unit having a horizontally disposed lower drum, means :for supporting said drum at a substantially fixed eleva tion and arranged for longitudinal movement of the drum thereon with changes in drum temperature, a row of tubes connected with said drum having a substantially vertical portion lying in a plane spaced from and parallel to the axis of said drum, a substantiallyfvertical wall supported on said tubes and arranged to form one wall of said generating unit setting, a soot hopper between said drum and said wall, means for supporting said hopper at a substantially fixed elevationand longitudinally adjacent said drum comprising abar longitudinally secured to said drum and afiixed to an inclined side of said hopper, a series of struts afiixed to the means supporting said drum and to the lower side of said hopper, meansforming a vertically expansible leak-proof joint connecting a vertical side of said hopper with said 'unit wall, end plates to said hopper attached to said drum and to the sides of. said hopper, means for removing collected solid material from said hopper, and at least one vertical expansion joint dividing said hopper into longitudinal sections comprising a flanged end on the hopper section continuously welded atitsend to one edge of a steel strip, a companion strip welded at its edge to the end of a corresponding 7 flange of an adjacent hoppersection and the companion stripswelded together at their edges opposite to the edges welded to said flanges.

6. In a vapor generating unit having an upper drumand alower drum, means for supporting one of said drums, upright tubes extending in a row between said drumsand connected" at opposite ends-thereto, 'means forming an upright wall' of said unit atone side of said row, a soot hopper between said lower drum and said wall having an upright side wall horizontally spaced fromsaid lower drum and terminating in an upper side wall portion adjacent said unit wall, means supporting said hopper from said lower drum, means forming a substantially gastight joint between said unit wall and said upper side wall portion of said hopper wall, and means tying said-upper side wall portion to certain of said tubes for restraining said hopper wall against lateral movement relative to said row, said tying means comprising relatively movable portions.

7;"In'a vapor generatingunit having an upper drum and a lower drum,"means for supporting one of said drums, upright tubes extending in, a row between-said drums and connected at opposite ends thereto, means forming an upright wall of saidunit at one side of said row, a soot hopper between said lower drum'and said wall, said hopper having a pair of spaced side walls and a pair of spaced end walls interconnected and arranged respectively longitudinally and transversely of said lower drum, means for supporting said hopper from said lower ;.drum comprising means rigidly securing one of said side walls to said drum along an upper edge portion and means rigidly securing each of said end walls-to said lower drum along a lateral edge portion, means forming a substantially gastight connection between saidunit wall and an upper portion of the other of said hopper side walls, and means for v tying-said upperhopper side wall portion to tubes of said row,,saidtying" means having relatively movable components-arranged to permit expansive and contractive movement of said tubes relativeto said hopper,

8. In combination with an elongated boiler drum, a soot hopper arranged longitudinally adjacent said drum, said hopper having interconnected boundary walls comprising longitudinal walls and transverse walls extending respectively longitudinallyand transversely of said drum, means for maintaining said transverse walls in substantially fixed position relative to opposite end portions of said drum, means forming an expansion joint between longitudinally adjacent sections of said longitudinal walls, said last named means including an end flange on one of said sections extending to one side of saidlongitudi-' nalfwalls and opposing a similarly arranged flange on the next adjacent section, a pair ofstrip-like elements disposed between said opposing flanges and each terminating in edges at opposite sides 01 said longitudinal walls, means at one of said sides sealingly' connecting an edge of each of saidelements to the adjacent edge oi a differentone .of said flanges, and meansatthe opposite side sealingly connecting an edge of one element to the adjacent edge of the other.

9. In apparatus forming aspace enclosure as-,.

sociated with an elongated part subject to temperature variations, said apparatus having interconnected boundary walls comprising lateral wall portions extending longitudinally of said part and end wall portions extending transversely of said part, means for maintaining said end wall portions in substantially fixed position relative to longitudinally spaced portions of said part, means forming an expansion joint between longitudi-: nally adjacent sections of said lateral wall por tions, said last named means including an end flange on one of said sections extending to one side of said lateral .wall portionsand opposing a similarly arranged flange on the next adjacent section, a pair'of strip-like elements inserted be-- tween said opposing flanges and each terminating in edges at oppositesides of said lateral wall portions, means at one of said sides sealingly connectingan edge of each of said elements to the adjacent edge of a differentone of said'fianges.

and means at the opposite side sealingly connecting an edge of one element to the adjacent edge of' the other. I I

10; In a vapor generating unit having an upper drum and a lower drum, means, for supporting.

one of said drums, upright tubes extending in a row between saiddrums and connected at opposite ends thereto, means forming an upright wall of said unit at one side of said row, a soot hopper between saidlower drum and said wall having an upright side wall horizontally spaced from said lower drum and terminating in an upper 7 side wall portion adjacent said unit wall, means supporting said hopper from said lower drum, means forming asubstantially gastight joint between said unit wall and said. upper side wall portion of said hopper wall, and means tying said hopper side wall to certain of said tubes for re-v straining said v hopper wall against lateral ment relative to said row. 3

11. In a vapor generating unit having a horizontally disposed drum and having an upright movewall arranged in horizontally spaced relation tosaid drum, said wall comprising upright fluid conducting tubes arranged as wall cooling elements and having lower ends connected to said drum, a soot hopper between said drum and said wall, and means for supporting said hopper from said drum while maintaining said hopper subsaid drum along longitudinally spaced arcuate portions thereof.

IVAR L. LANGVAND. GLEN J. SCHOESSOW.

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